Ya sabes

Bold ideas and practical resources for your classroom

Welcome to the latest issue of Ya sabes, your go-to source for everything you need to take your Spanish instruction to the next level. In this issue: 

• How to get started with proficiency-based grading
• Take a look inside creating a truly diverse language program
• Support all students in your classroom with our free downloads

Do you enjoy receiving Ya sabes? Tell a colleague to subscribe! 

¡Felicidades!

Getting started with proficiency-based grading

In our three-part series on the Proficiency Talks blog, Instructional Strategist Cristin Bleess takes a look at the nuts and bolts of transforming your grade book.

In Part I she explores the shift in her thinking from a number-based grade book to one that truly captures her students' abilities. In Part II she gives practical advice for making the switch. And in the last installment she shares the 6 dos and don'ts of a proficiency-driven grade book.

'Inclusion is not just checking off boxes' 

What makes a language program truly inclusive? How can we ensure that all students feel represented? How do we keep an open conversation with teachers to learn about the ever-shifting landscapes of their classroom? These are some of the questions we wrestle with in a recent Proficiency Talks blog post.  We give you an insider's look at what goes into making sure that our world language programs represent and speak to all students in your classroom.

Free downloads to support all students 

Take a peek at some of the free proficiency-driven supporting materials we offer to make your life in the classroom easier. 

• Classroom expressions handout in Spanish and French to help keep your students in the target language
• Free lesson plans (in Spanish and French)
• 5 reasons to teach for proficiency—a free download to make the case for proficiency-driven instruction.
• Strategies for supporting heritage learners
• Tips on integrating differentiated instruction
• How to cultivate interculturality in your classroom

The first steps to becoming a language advocate

Hi educators,

We are excited to once again sponsor Language Advocacy Day 2020. Organized by the Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL), Language Advocacy Day (LAD) is part "lobby-day" and part full-day policy forum that brings together national representatives concerned about the state of language learning in the U.S.

Want to get involved? Watch this brief video with JNCL Managing Director Trey Calvin on how to take the first steps towards becoming a language advocate. Then download our handy guide to some of the easy things you can do right now to advocate for access to language education.

Can't make it to LAD this year? Follow us on Twitter February 6-7 to get an insider's look at the events of the day and to see how teachers across the country #speakupforlanguages.

Show your advocacy colors

Show your commitment to language advocacy by adding a Speak Up badge to your Facebook profile. Visit the Wayside page or search for Speak Up for Languages here.

'Inclusion is not just checking off boxes'

What makes a language program truly inclusive? How can we ensure that all students feel represented? How do we keep an open conversation with teachers to learn about the ever-shifting landscapes of their classroom? These are some of the questions we wrestle with in our latest Proficiency Talks blog post and we give you an insider's look at what goes into making sure that our world language programs represent and speak to all students in your classroom.

A propos

Ideas and resources for your French classroom

In this issue:

• Making the case for interculturality
• More paths to proficiency for your novice learners
• 5 tips for making the most of online learning communities

What would you like to read about in the next issue? We’d love to hear from you! 

Bon cours,

In case you missed it: Making the case for interculturality

We loved meeting so many of you at this year’s AATF conference in Philadelphia. 

In case you missed EntreCultures coauthor Ed Weiss’ presentation on interculturality, you can catch up with his latest post on our blog, where he argues that there is no way to replicate the experience of living in a country where the target language is spoken. 


 

More paths to proficiency for your novice French learners

We launched our groundbreaking French language program, EntreCultures 1 and 2, this summer. Now we are pleased to introduce EntreCultures 1A and 1B in a new special edition for middle schools and for schools that use non-traditional scheduling. 

EntreCultures 1A (novice-low to novice-mid) and EntreCulturas 1B (novice-mid to novice-high) allow greater flexibility for classrooms to complete the first year of French over a longer period of time. The topics, resources, and themes are relevant and appropriate for middle school students and an overlapping unit between the two editions allows for continuity.

  
 

Take a peek inside EntreCultures 3

EntreCultures 3 will take your students’ proficiency and knowledge of French culture to the pre-AP® level. Covering engaging topics like friendships, the effects of digital media, and healthy habits, EntreCultures 3 integrates a diverse variety of authentic resources that drive the cultural contexts for communicative tasks. 

EntreCultures 3 will be available in late 2020, but you can take a peek inside now!

  
 

5 tips for making the most of online learning communities

Do you ever feel isolated as you plan, grade, or build relationships with your students? Fortunately, there are thriving world language teacher communities online, ready to lend support. Ashley Uyaguari, host of the Inspired Proficiency podcast series, collected her best tips for finding and making the most of these communities.